Machine for milling the flanges of airplane wing spars



'E. J. E DEWOlTlNE MACHINE FOR MILLING FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARSFiled April l0, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet l gv: Mmm,

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MACHINE FOR MILLINVG THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS Filed April l0,1940 9 ShybS-Sheet 2 HTTURHEYS Aug. 22, 1944. E. J. E. DEwomNE MACHINEFOR MILLING THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4V FiledApril 10, 1940 .F- ieflh mvenroa.' EmLE INNEN EUQEUE DEwon'mE BY /wwaf',

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l MACHINE FOR MILLING THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS Filepril 1o,1940 9 sheets-sheet 5 .Fia .13.

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v1VAGI:|E FOR MILLING THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS Filed April l0,1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fie. .16.

' HTTO RHYS All@ 22, 1944- E. J.' E Dl-:wol/TINE 2,356,571

MACHINE FOR MILLING THE FLNGES OF AIRPLANE WING VSPRS l 9 Sheets-Sheet 7Filed April l0, 1940 \w\\\\\\\ mW/wvv/vwJ/////AAAA/W// 4.

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MACHINE FOR MILLING THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS Filed April10,1940 9 sheets-sheet 8 Flaw.

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MACHINE FOR MlLLING THE FLANGES OF AIRPLANE WING SPARS Filed April 1o,1940 9 sheets-sheet 9 l WNEHTOR nrfonuefs Patented Aug. 22, 1944 MACHINEFOR MILLING THE FLANGES F AIRPLANE WING SPARS Emile Julien EugneDewoiti'ne, Neuilly-sur- Seine, France; vested in the Alien PropertyCustodian Application April 10, 1940, Serial No. 328,824

In France May 24, 1939 v s claims. (ci. elo- 135 The present inventionhas for its object improvements in machines for milling the flanges ofairplane Wing spars of the type described and illustrated in the Frenchpatent application No. 847,783 dated June 23, 1938, for Machine formilling the flanges of airplane wing spars.

The machines of this kind comprise a table receiving the spar and theinclination of which table is adjustable relatively to a bed along whichmove the milling-cutter carriages.

These improvements are adapted to reinforce the construction and inparticular, to increase the working capacity of machines of this type,as Well as their output whilst facilitating the direction thereof. Theyare mainly characterised by the following points applicable separatelyand in any combinations:

1. The bed anchored on a base or a mass of concrete, is constituted by abeam the cross section of which is substantially M-shaped, and in theaxial conduit of which is arranged the table receiving the spar to bemachined, vertical ribs bracing the sides according to a triangulardistribution the apices of the triangles alternating from one side tothe other.

2. The table is constituted by an I-shaped beam laterally closed by twoWelded flat members (electric welding for instance) and perforated atintervals for the passage of the screws securing said table to the bed,the upper flange being reinforced by a seating secured in position andaxially grooved for centering the plates suD- porting the spars.

3. The plates for securing the spars are of three types respectivelyimproving the arrangement: to machine the inner face of the sparflanges, to machine the longitudinal edges of the flanges, to machinethe outer face of the flanges.

They are centered on the table by engaging a longitudinal rib or bar inthe axial groove oi said table. The spars are secured in position on theplates by means of a mechanism provided With pistons subjected to thethrust of one and the same fluid under pressure.

4. The saddle supporting the movable heads with their milling-cutterarbors is devised in the form of a bridge and is constituted by acaisson supported by two hollow lateral uprights which rest on thelongitudinal slideways of the bed, each end of the caisson being devisedfor receiving the movable heads. y

5. The removable heads are of two types: one having a vertical spindle,the other a horizontal spindle, and the saddle can receive: a headhaving a horizontal spindle and a head having a vertical spindle; a headhaving a horizontal spindle and two heads having vertical spindles; fourheads having vertical spindles.

6. The vertical spindle head comprises a front part in which arearranged the spindle and its mechanisms and accessory membersandwhich ismounted in the vertical slideway of av carriage horizontally guided in aslideway of the saddle.

7. The horizontal spindle head comprises a front p'art in which arearranged the spindle Vand its mechanisms and accessory members and.which is supportedA in the circular slideways of a carriage verticallyguided in the slideways of a second carriage guided in the horizontalslide- Aways of the saddle;

8. The carriages which, for the heads having vertical spindles and ahorizontal spindle,` are horizontally guided on the saddle, are held atthe upper part ofthe latter by ball bearings distributed in two groupswith the axes located in two perpendicular planes,` the guiding at thelower part of the saddle being ensured by a, simple dove-tailarrangement.

9. The front part of the head having a vertical spindle isvertic'allyadjusted in'l the Vertical slide- Way of its carriage by pressing 'on avertically arranged abutment screw.

10. 'I'he horizontal displacements on the saddle ofthe .carriagecarrying the vertical spindle head are automatically controlled duringthe displacements of the saddle, by means `of a roller guided by acopying path secured to thebed.

11. The roller according to is resiliently restored on to `the copyingpath yand mounted in such a manner as to be set in a vertical slideblockprovided with rack teeth lconnected by a suitable pinion to a horizontalrack provided on the carriage of-the vertical spindle head, in order toconvert the Vertical displacements of the copyking roller intotransverse displacements of said carriage.

12. The control of the milling-cutters of the horizontal and verticalspindles is ensured by one and the'same electric motor having a verticalaxis, mounted at the upper part of the saddle, the shaft 0f the motorengaging with a reducing gear, the ratio of which'is adjustable bysubstituting pinions, and which comprises three primary shafts: a shaftforcontrolling the horizontal spindle; two shafts for controlling thetwo vertical spindles, when'two Vertical spindle heads aresimultaneously mounted on the saddle.

13. The connection between the secondary shafts of the reducing gearaccording to 12 and each of the spindles to which they correspond -ismade by means of extensible double' cardan shafts.

14. The displacements of the saddle on the bed of the machine areensured by a distinct electric motor mounted at the upper part of thesaddle with its shaft vertically arranged, as the motor controlling thespindles,` and connected to a reducing device varranged in a box securedto the saddle and carrying a manually controlled Winch, the secondaryshaft of the reducing device carrying a pinion rolling on a racksecuredto the bed of the machine.

Other advantageous particularities of the invention will be set forth inthe following description which relates to a form of construction of amachine for milling the flanges of airplane wing spars, to which aresimultaneously applied all the features above defined. This form ofconstruction is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of one of the typical angle members which canbe cut on the machine forming the subject-matter of the invention, forconstituting the flanges of airplane wing spars.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 are end views of spar iianges which can be obtainedV withthe machine forming the subject-matter of the invention.

F'g. 5 is a vertical cross section of the bed of the machine. j

Fig, 6 is a partial plan view of the bed.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale, of the bedwith the table mounted thereon. i

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, are cross sections of plates for securing the sparflanges on the table ofthe machine. i

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the saddle.

Fig. l2 is a plan view of the saddle.

Fig. 13 is a partial longitudinal axial section of the saddle.

Fig. 14 is a partial horizontal section thereof.

Fig. 15 is a vertical cross section of the carriage mounted on the bedof the machine'.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a part'of. the

`transmission controlling the milling-cutter spin- -dles of the machine.i

Fig. 17 is a horizontal axial section, onan enlarged scale, of thereducing device connected to the motor controlling .the milling-cutterspindles.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section of the vertical spindle head, of itscarriage and of the end of the corresponding saddle.

Fig. 19 is a cross section of the horizontal spin- `dle head.

Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of thehorizontal spindle head.

The machine according to the invention allows the complete machining ofthe flanges of wing spars, long angle members made of Duralumin,

of variable cross section, and Without necessitating any dressing orfinishing. It allows, in particular, of machining angle members made ofDuralumin, of great length and the typica1 shape `of section, thedimensions being variable, is that shown in Fig. 1.

Starting from these typical angle members, can be obtained inparticular, flanges of airplane wing spars, the end view of which isshown in Figs. 2 to 4, the width, and the'thickness being variable aswell as the slopes in the transverse and in the longitudinal directions.

As previously known machines of this type', the machine comprises afixed bed which supports the angle member to be machined and on whichmoves a saddle carrying the required millingcutters.

According to a feature of the invention, the

-bed is constituted by a beam, preferably made of perlitic pig iron ofgreat resistance and hardness, the cross section of which issubstantially M- shaped as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The facing innersides I of the central portion limit the housing of the table which willbe described hereinafter and the lateral guiding of which is en- `suredby contact with faced bearing surfaces la. The inner sides I and outersides 2-of the bed .of the special bolts which ensure the locking of thetable as `explained hereinafter. The bed is mounted on a concrete baseto which it is anchored by fixing bolts the nuts of which are housed inpockets 5 formed at the lower part of the outer sides 2, and inwardlyoffset within the bed, so that the latter do not constitute a projectioncapable of limiting the accessibility of the members to be machinedmounted on the machine.r

At one of the ends of the bed isprovided the mechanism for adjusting thelongitudinal inclinations of the table. The latter is pivoted, at itsopposite end, on a pivot or transverse pin secured on the bed and themechanism for adjusting the inclinations is, substantially thatdescribed in the French Patent No. 847,783 dated June 23, 1938, forMachine for milling the fianges of airplane wing spars in the name ofthe applicant.

The table shown in cross section Fig. 7, is constituted by a beam B,preferably a Grey beam, the two flanges of which are braced by flatmembers 'I electrically welded at 8 and perfectly surfaced externally soas to exactly t between the bearings Ia of the bed.

At right angles with each of the bosses 4 of the bed, the flat members Iare apertured at 'Ia for'the passage of the special head 9 of thelocking bolts Il) guided in the bosses 4. The screw threaded end of eachbolt is threaded into a nut II completely embedded in a perforationformed in the sides 2 of the bedy and manipulated by a special wrenchengagedl in the polygonal hole I Ia. These bolts are loosened forlallowing the inclination of the table to be adjusted, then locked forholding the latter stationary during the work.

On the upper flange of the beam 6 of the table is mounted and secured,for instance by means of rivets I2 and of lines of electric welding I4,a seating plate l5 the upper surface of which is faced parallel to thesurfaces I'I of the lateral slideways of the bed.

A longitudinal groove I6 is cut on the seating plate for centering theplates supporting the angle members to be machined. Tapped holes I8 arealso provided in the plate I5 and in the upper flange of the beam 6 forthe securing screws or bolts of said plates. The latter are of threetypes illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10. They are made for instance of pigiron and carry, on the lower face, an axial guide-strip I9 which engagesin the groove I6 formed in the table. The lower face has three facedbearings 20 which press against the upper face of the seating plate I5,the locking being ensured by screws and bolts screwed in the holes I8and not shown. v Y

The first type allows machining an angle member 2 I, on its inner face,that is to say on the side where its rib 2 Ia is located which must beaxially grooved. The angle'member 2l presses through its outer face onthe machined faces 22 of the caisson and it is locked betweenY spaceblockslZS by the action of small pistons 24 controlled by a commonhydraulic pressure. With this arrangement, the locking pressure isdistributed as uniformly as desired. The fluid under pressure is led toa single conduit from which it is supplied to the cylinders 25distributed on the plates whatever may be the type thereof. In theexamples illustrated, the pistons of the cylinders 25 act, through themedium of a lever 26 on a cam 21 locking the pistons 24. In the type ofplate shown in Fig. 10, the angle member 2| is machined on itslowerface. It is held on the plate by locking its rib 2|a between thespace blocks 23 subjected to the thrust of the pistons 24 alreadydesrcibed. If the rib 2 |a is already axially grooved, it is reinforcedby the engagement of. a shaped wedge 28. For suitably distributing thelocking stresses, Wedges 29, or a single wedge of the required width,are arranged between the space blocks 23.

The type of plate shown in Fig. 9 allows the lateral faces 2|b of twoangle members 2| to be machined simultaneously. In this type, the anglemembers 2 I, mounted on the wedges 29 are pressed against the machinedfaces 3l! of the plate, by means of space blocks 3| between which acts acam 32 journalled in a bearing 33 and angularly connected by means of aconnecting rod and lever'to the piston rod 34 of the cylinder 25. Thesecuring in position of the angle members can be completed by bridges35, locked on the plate by screws 36 pressing against the ribs 2|areinforced by shaped Wedges 28.

Other types of plates for machining angle members other than thosecontemplated by way of examples, can obviously be devised.

The milling-cutters of the machine are of two types: a vertical spindletype; a horizontal spindle type.

Each type is mounted on a distinct movable head, all the heads beingmounted, through the medium of a suitable carriage, on one and the samesaddle. The latter is devised in the form of a bridge-the lateraluprights 31 of which (Fig. rest at their base on the slideways |1 of thebed. One of these uprights extends below the plane of the slideways I1for ensuring the lateral guiding through the medium of' wedging checks33 resiliently urged outwards in order to ensure the automatic taking upof the play, the bearing on the opposite side 39 of the bed taking placeby means of a wedge provided on the frame 4G, for the automatic andmanual control of the feed, suitably secured on the saddle. The heightof the saddle is maintained in any suitable manner and, for instance, bymeans of the well known platens.

The unit constituted by the saddle or bridge which has just beendiagrammatically described in its essential lines, is moulded so as toprovide casings the separating walls of which ensure a rugged ribbing ofthe whole. The upright 31 on the side where the feed frame 4|) islocated, or on the operators side, constitutes a casing for the electricapparatus controlling the motors the functions of which will bedescribed later on. The opposite upright contains the liquid oil pumpfor lubricating the milling-cutters. The upper part of the saddle formsa casing for the transmission or connection between the milling-cutterspindles and their control motor.

A door is provided at 4| through which access may be had for examiningor changing the transmission gears. Doors 42 and 43 are also providedfor the side casings. The arch comprised between the uprights 31 ensurescomplete visibility of the work and allows of simultaneously mountingfour copying devices on the bed.

As above indicated, the movable heads are of two types: one having avertical milling-cutter spindle, the other a horizontal spindle.

The vertical spindle type has a vertical approaching and adjustingmovement and a transverse horizontal working movement controlled by acopying device.

The horizontal spindle type is semi-rotary having a transverse adjustingmovement and vertical and pivoting working movements also controlled bya copying device.

The saddle is arranged to receive, at will, the following movable headcombinations: two horizontal spindle heads; one horizontal spindle headand one vertical spindle head; one horizontal spindle head and twovertical spindle heads; four vertical spindle heads.

These combinations satisfy all the working conditions for machiningangle members having a variable slope in the longitudinal direction andin the transverse direction.

The vertical spindle head proper (Fig. 18) comprises a frame 44 whichsupports the milling-cutter spindle 45 and which is mounted on adovetail slideway 46 (Fig. 14) provided on a carriage 41 mounted on thesaddle.

As shown in Fig. 14, two slideways 46 are provided on the carriage 4 1so that, when necessary, two vertical spindle heads can besimultaneously mounted with the carriage; the axes of the spindles beingoffset on either side of the median plane of the carriage 41. Thevertical adjustment of the heads 44 is effected by means of the abutmentscrews 48 (Fig. 18) screwed on the carriage and locked, if need be, by alock-nut not shown.

The carriage can move transversely on the saddle on which it is guidedby a lower dove-tail slideway 49, whereas at its upper part it bears:vertically through rollers 5i); laterally through rollers 5|, onhorizontal and vertical guiding sur-A faces of the saddle.

The rollers 5|) and 5l are advantageously constituted by outer rings ofball bearings mounted on arbors52 and 5 3 capable of being set ineccentric gearings'of the carriage on which they are locked in thesuitable position.

The transverse displacements of the carriage 41 on the saddle areautomatic and -controlled by a copying path secured on the bed on whichrolls a roller 54 mounted in a forked member 55 adjustably mounted in, aslide-block r*f3.6 'movable in a vertical conduit in the saddle andurged downwardly by a spring (not shown) toward the copying path (Figs.13 and 18) Suitable means (not shown) may be employed for utilizingvertical displacements of the slide block 55 to impart horizontaldisplacements of equal or corresponding amplitude to the carriage 41.

The milling-cutter spindle 45 is mounted in a sleeve .58 in which it canslide while remaining in angular connection therewith. sleeve 58 iscentered and indirectly supported by smooth bearings 59 and abutmentbearings Eil and it is angularly connected to a dog-clutch $3 which anouter operating handle 54 provided with a latch 65, allows of engagingby means of suitable claws, with one or the other of the sleeves t3 andS1. freely mounted relatively to the spindle 45, and carrying bevelpinions i5! and 2 constantly meshing with a pinion constantly driven inthe same direction, as explained hereinafter. By acting on thehandle'64, the spindles 45 can be rotated in one directionl or in theother.

The horizontal spindle head (Figs. 19 and 20) comprises a frame E9,secured on a carriage 1r] by bolts 1| the trapezoidal head of which isguided in grooves 12 formed in the carriage 1i! and concentricallycurved 'so as to allow of setf ting, at will, the milling-cutter spindle13 about the common center of said head and spindle.

The carriage 'l0 is vertically guided by means of a dove-tail slidewayon a second carriage 41e substantially similar to the carriage 41 of thevertical spindle head and mounted as the latter, on the saddle to besubject-ed to horizontal displacements transversely to the bed. However,in the case of the horizontal spindle head, the carriage 41a is manuallyadjusted by means of a worm 14 acting on a rack having inclined teethand cut on the carriage.

The movement of the carriage l on the carriage 4la can be rendered freeor blocked at will. In the rst case, its position is limited in thedownward direction by a screw 15. In the blocked condition, the movementis controlled by means of a roller 76 bearing on a suitable copyingpath.

The circular movement of the head 69 (Fig. 20) on the carriage 'lll canalso be free or locked. In the rst case, the bolts are loosenedsuiciently, their locking depending for instance on Bellevill washers'|'l and each of the arms 69a of the head (Fig. 19) carries adjustablerollers which'roll on suitable copying paths. The milling-cutter spindle13 is removably secured on two hollow journals 18 centered by means ofbearings 19. It is driven by gears 80, 8|, 82, from a shaft 83 meshingwith a dog-clutch 84, actuated by a suitable handle, and which can beconnected, at will, to one or the other of the bevel piniong 85 rigidlysecured on sleeves freely mounted relatively to the shaft, 83 andconstantly in mesh with a driving pinion 86.

The control of all the milling-cutter spindles .is ensured by one andthe same electric motor 8'! (Fig. 13) having a vertical axis securedthrough the medium of a support 88 to the upper part ofthe saddle, onthe cover 89 of an upper central casing.

The shaft of said motor engages, by means of a bevel pinion 99, with abevel gear 92 ..and by means of a bevel pinion 9|, with a bevel gear 93(Fig.rl3). The gear 92 is the i-lrst` of a train of gears controlling,the vertical spindles, said train being constituted by the gears 94-95and 96 (Fig. 14). The gear 93 is the first of the train of gearscontrolling the horizontal spindle; said train comprises the gears 91,93, 9,9 (Figs. 14 and 17). The gears of both these trains are journalledin a frame |00 and can be replaced by others for causing the ratio ofthe trains to vary.

The connection between the gears 95 and 96 and the pinions E8 of thevertical spindle head, respectively, takes place by means of doubleCardan extensible shafts |0| and |02. The connection between the gear 99and pinion 86 of the horizontal spindle head takes place through a shaft|03 of the same type as the preceding ones.

The control of the feed of the saddle on the bed is ensured by hand froma capstan |04 which .controls the train of gears arranged in the casinglll) (Fig. l) and connected to a pinion which rolls in the known mannerfor other machinetools, on a rack |05 secured on the bed. It isautomatically ensured by a separate electric motor |06 the shaft ofwhich is extended at |01 up to the casing 4D. Said motor advantageouslyrotates in two directions, two stroke limiting switches being providedon its supply circuit.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. Ina machine forl milling airplane wing spars, a bed having anM-shaped cross section, vertical ribs arranged triangularly along saidbed between the adjacent parts or sides forming the M and includingmeans for supporting an I- shaped beam forming a table in the centralrecess o-f the M, means upon said bed for producing a variablelongitudinal inclination of said table relatively t0 the bed, slidewayson the bed for' a saddle having a milling-cutter head at each end, meansupon said bed for moving said saddle along the bed and means carriedupon said bed for controlling the milling-cutters.

2. In a machine for milling airplane wing spars as claimed in claim 1,with plates for securing the spars adapted to be centered on the tableby the engagement of a longitudinal rib in an axial groove of the table,the feature including pistons upon the bed actuated by a fluid underpressure for locking the spars on the plates.

3. In a machine for milling airplane Wing spars, a bed having anM-shaped cross section, vertical ribs arranged triangularly along saidbed between the adjacent parts or sides forming the M and includingmeans for supporting an I-shaped beam forming a table in the centralrecess of the M, means upon said bed for producing a variablelongitudinal inclination of said table relatively to the bed, slidewayson the bed for a saddle in the shape of a bridge having a milling-cutterhead at each end, means upon said bed for moving said saddle along thebed and means carried upon said bed for controlling the milling-cutters.

4. In a machine for milling airplane wing spars, a bed having anM-shaped cross section,

vertical ribs arranged triangularly along said bed between the adjacentparts or sides forming the M and including means for supporting anI-shaped beam forming a table in the central recess of the M, means uponsaid bed for producing a variable longitudinal inclination of said tablerelatively to the bed, and slideways on the bed for a saddle having amovable head for a vertical spindle milling-cutter at one end and amovable head for a horizontal spindle millingcutter at the other end.

5. In a machine for milling airplane wing spars, a bed having anM-shaped cross section, vertical ribs arranged triangularly along saidbed between the adjacent parts or sides forming the M and includingmeans for supporting an I-shaped beam forming a table in the centralrecess of the M, means upon said bed for producing a variablelongitudinal inclination of said table relatively to the bed, slidewayson the bed for a saddle having a milling cutter head at each end and anelectric motor mounted at the upper part of said saddle with itsshaftvertically arranged, a rack on said bed, gearingdown mechanismconnected to said shaft and comprising a pinion meshing with said rackon the bed, said saddle having a milling-cutter head at each end of thesame, and means on said bed for moving said saddle along the bed andmeans for Vcontrolling the milling-cutters.

6. Ina machine for milling airplane wing spars as claimed in claim 5, ahandcontrol capstan is mounted on one of the pinions of the reducingdevice, andY means Vare provided for Vdisenvice.

EMILE JULIEN EUGENE DEWOITINE.

